50 Cent Happy With Kelly Rowland’s Success: ‘It’s Her Time’

Thanks to the chart-topping success of 'Motivation,' Kelly Rowland has a gazillion fans cheering behind her to win. But no one is a bigger cheerleader of the former Destiny Child songbird's accomplishments than hip-hop toughie 50 Cent. "I'm so happy Kelly got that hit record," says Fiddy. "She's due; she's so due. She's the most underrated female soloist in the game, and it's finally time for her."

50 should know since he cast K. Rowls as his love interest in the 2009 video for 'Baby by Me' (featuring Ne-Yo). At that time, the rapper recognized the songbird's international appeal through the David Guetta-produced 'Commander' single, which was slept on by American audiences. "I wanted her to be in the video, because she was smoking hot everywhere else my record had to be hot at," 50 recalls. "They thought I was doin' her a favor because here in the US, they wasn't hip."

We are all hip to her now 50, thanks for the heads up.

In the meantime, Kelly Rowland will release her new album 'Here I Am' on July 26. If things go they way that they should, Rowland is going to have a fantastic year. Even 50 Cent agrees with our assessment. "I think its just time for her. This year is her year," 50 attests.